About April
April Shields is a licensed professional counselor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and the daily challenges of ADHD. She focuses on practical steps that increase self-trust and self-compassion so clients can feel more confident in decisions and relationships. April frames therapy as a collaborative effort and aims to create a calm, accepting space for change.
Her style is straightforward and person-centered. She listens first, then works with each person to identify small, manageable goals.
Background and approach
Sessions may include guided breathing, body-based techniques, and mindfulness exercises to help reduce reactivity and increase focus. April uses trauma-informed methods when working with wounds from abuse, attachment difficulties, dissociation, or family of origin pain. She also applies solution-focused strategies to address specific life changes, coping skills, and communication problems.
EMDR and somatic tools are offered as possible options for processing difficult memories and painful sensations. People who come for coaching or relationship concerns will find a practical orientation to progress. April helps clients clarify values, set boundaries, and practice new behaviors between sessions.
Work around compassion fatigue and multicultural concerns emphasizes restoring energy and meaning. With 15 years of clinical experience and credentials as an LPC and LPCC, April practices from Wisconsin and conducts sessions in English. She supports clients who want steady, skills-based work toward clearer goals and greater self-acceptance.
Approaches that translate well to online care
April blends client-centered work with EMDR and mindfulness in ways that adapt to remote formats. Client-centered therapy emphasizes active listening and collaboration, helping people clarify goals and feel heard; it works well over video or phone when conversation and planning are the focus. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, uses structured processing to help with traumatic memories and can be guided through video while the therapist coaches pacing and bilateral stimulation. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce anxiety and improve focus, and these exercises are easy to practice between sessions or during a live video visit.Choosing a therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk about options, try methods that fit the client's needs, and adjust plans based on how each person responds. Clients are encouraged to share preferences and practical concerns so the plan stays useful and relevant.
Online sessions offer practical benefits like scheduling flexibility and fewer barriers to regular care. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction and visual cues. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat or text-based messaging can support shorter check-ins, coaching between sessions, and written reflections. These formats make it easier to keep momentum, try strategies in daily life, and stay connected to a licensed professional.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Also listed
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 15 years
- Licensed
- Wisconsin, California, Arizona
- Languages
- English
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